Barium Sulfate oral suspension

What is this medication?

BARIUM SULFATE (BA ree um SUL fate) is a contrast agent that is used to diagnose problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

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This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Baricon, Baro Cat, Baropaque, Barosperse, Barotrast, CAT Pak, CheeTah, Digibar 90, Digital HD, E Z Cat, E Z HD, E Z Paque, Enhancer, Entero H, Entrobar, Entroease, HD-200, HD-85, Liqui-Coat HD, Liquid E Z Paque, Liquid Polibar, Liquid Sol-O-Pake, Medescan, Opti Up, Polibar, Prepcat, Readi Cat, Readi Cat 2, Scan-C, Sol-O-Pake, Stomach Barium Air Contrast, Stomach Barium Single Contrast, Tonojug Tonopaque, Tonopaque, Top Cat, Ultra R, VoLumen

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What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• blockage in your bowel
• blood in your stool (black or tarry stools) or if you have blood in your vomit
• cancer
• difficulty swallowing
• inflammatory bowel disease
• lung or breathing disease, like asthma
• stomach or intestine problems
• an unusual or allergic reaction to barium sulfate, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

Take this medicine by mouth. It is usually given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

If you get this medicine at home, you will be taught how to prepare and give this medicine. Use exactly as directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this medicine may be prescribed for children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

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What if I miss a dose?

If you cannot follow the steps to prepare for your test, tell your health care professional. The test may need to be re-scheduled.

What may interact with this medication?

Interactions are not expected. You may or may not be able to take your regular medications during the time of preparation for your procedure. Ask your doctor or health care professional for advice.

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

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What should I watch for while using this medication?

Follow all instructions from your health care professional to properly prepare for your test. Serious side effects of the test are rare, but report an unexplained fever, blood in the stool, or significant abdominal pain promptly.

After the test, drink plenty of water to help avoid constipation and to help flush the barium out. You may have light or white stools for a few days after the test. Your stools will go back to normal color within a few days.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation
• diarrhea
• nausea, vomiting
• stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of reach of children.

See product for storage instructions. Each product may have different instructions.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Brand Name

US

Brand Name

Bar-Test

Entero VU

E-Z-Cat Dry

E-Z-Disk

E-Z-HD

Readi-Cat 2

Readi-Cat 2 Smoothie

Tagitol V

Varibar

Varibar Pudding

Volumen

Canadian

Brand Name

Acb

Baro-Cat

Colobar-100

Epi-C

Epi-Stat

Esobar

Link to Pairs Horses Chemical

Esopho-Cat Esophageal Cream

E-Z-Cat

E-Z-Hd

E-Z-Jug

E-Z-Paque

Gel-Unix 10

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Description

Barium sulfate is used to help diagnose or find problems in the esophagus, stomach, and bowels. It is a radiographic contrast agent. Contrast agents are used to create a clear picture of the different parts of the body.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Suspension
• Cream
• Powder for Suspension
• Tablet
• Paste

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Before Using

In deciding to use a diagnostic test, any risks of the test must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. Also, other things may affect test results. For this test, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Entero VU&#; 24% oral suspension is not indicated for use in children.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of E-Z-HD oral suspension in children 12 years of age and older. However, safety and efficacy of this medicine have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Varibar® Pudding oral paste in children 6 months of age and older. However, safety and efficacy of this medicine have not been established in children younger than 6 months of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of barium sulfate oral suspension or paste in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this diagnostic test. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to other contrast agents, recent or
• Asthma, hay fever, or other allergies, history of&#;May increase risk for allergic reaction to occur again.

• Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) or
• Cancer or
• Inflammatory bowel disease or
• Stomach or bowel problems (eg, diverticulitis, fistula, stenosis, ulcer)&#;May cause barium to leak in the stomach in patients with these conditions.

• Cystic fibrosis or
• Dehydration or
• Electrolyte imbalance or
• Stomach or bowel problems (eg, Hirschsprung disease, severe stenosis)&#;May increase risk for more serious side effects.

• Fructose intolerance (genetic disease), history of&#;The oral suspension contains sorbitol, which can make this condition worse.

• Radiation treatment on the pelvis (hip area), recent or
• Stomach or bowel blockage, known or suspected or
• Stomach or bowel perforation, known or suspected or
• Stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, injury, ischemia, severe ileus, toxic megacolon) or
• Stomach or bowel surgery or
• Trouble swallowing&#;Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

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Proper Use

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given by mouth. You will swallow the barium liquid or paste just before a CT scan or x-ray.

Your doctor may tell you not to eat or drink anything the night before your test. Barium will work better if your stomach and bowels are empty.

It is important to drink plenty of liquids during and after the test. Barium sulfate may cause severe constipation.

Barium sulfate is also available as an enema and given through the rectum.

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Precautions

Your doctor will check your or your child's progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to receive it.

Serious allergic reactions may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, noisy breathing, trouble breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting after receiving this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Bloating
• constipation (severe, continuing)
• cramping (severe)
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain
• tightness in the chest
• trouble breathing

Incidence not known

• Anxiety
• blood in the urine or stools
• blurred vision
• bruising
• chest pain
• confusion
• cough
• coughing or vomiting blood
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fainting
• fast or slow heartbeat
• hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
• noisy breathing
• persistent bleeding or oozing from puncture sites, mouth, or nose
• redness of the skin
• sweating
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Constipation or diarrhea
• cramping

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-.

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